Chapter Three ~ Dumbledore's Decision
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Draco and Harry stood on opposite sides of the group that stood waiting for Hagrid to begin their Care of Magical Creatures class. At least if they couldn't be next to each other, this way they could look at each other without the other's realising what they were doing. Draco was finding it increasingly harder to keep up the façade of cool superiority that he was well known for. You would think, he thought idly, that after six years of practice, he would have been really good at it by now. But the difference between then and now, was that now he had Harry. Draco smiled to himself, and just happened to glance over at Harry at the same time. He looked away quickly, so his goons beside him didn't notice, but he was pleased to note that Harry had been looking at him and had smiled back. Draco hugged his feelings to himself, taking comfort in the love shining in Harry's eyes. At that thought Draco frowned. This could be difficult. He had forgotten that Harry tended to wear his heart on his sleeve, his every emotion reflected in his eyes. Draco had had years of practice at hiding his emotions, Harry had not.
Draco just hoped his parents arrived soon. He couldn't understand what was taking them so long. Surely they just had to apparate to Hogsmeade and then walk up to Hogwart's. Something must have delayed them. Draco just hoped it wasn't Voldemort. They had lived in fear long enough, he thought resentfully. He hated not being able to be himself. He hated having to act like an arrogant prick. No wonder Harry's friends hated him. It was going to take them a long time to accept him and Harry, when they finally told everyone. Draco knew he could only be himself, his true self, when he was alone with Harry, or with Dumbledore. Crabbe and Goyle might look stupid, but if he started acting differently, they'd owl their parents as fast as they could. That was something else Draco didn't understand…why did Crabbe and Goyle care so much about what he did? Why did their parents demand that they report on his behaviour, almost daily it seemed? It just didn't make sense. Maybe Voldemort was blackmailing them. Nah, blackmailing didn't seem like a very Dark Lordish thing to do.
Hagrid was explaining the next hideous beast they were going to be introduced to. Draco wasn't paying attention to the lecture. He tried to concentrate in class, but his mind always seemed to wander. It was a wonder he was passing any of his subjects. Draco knew he was doing a lot better than passing, but he didn't like to think about it. Contrary to popular belief, he didn't enjoy bragging – it just went with the image. Not everything about Draco was an act, however. He actually was pretty vain. He could spend hours making sure he looked right. Don't get me started on my hair, he thought wryly. Harry's hair always looked great, all messed up like that. It had been a source of great jealousy when Draco had just met Harry. Now Draco regarded Harry with pride, he loved how sexy his boyfriend was. Draco frowned at the title 'boyfriend'. Was Harry his boyfriend? Draco thought they should probably talk about it later. He wanted to hold onto the happy feelings and push the confusion aside to be examined later, in private.
"Draco! DRACO!" Hagrid was yelling at him.
"Alright, alright, what?" Draco said, just barely remembering to add a touch of revulsion to his voice.
"Dumbledore wants to see you and Harry in his office," Hagrid replied in annoyance. Draco wondered how long he had been trying to get his attention. Draco looked over at Harry and noticed the horrified looks on the faces of his friends. Draco scowled at them and started to walk off towards the castle. Harry didn't catch up with him until he was already in the building. Harry took his hand and squeezed it gently. They were alone in the corridors as all the other students were still in class.
"Harry, are you my boyfriend now?" Draco asked quietly, waiting desperately for the right answer. Harry stopped and turned to face Draco. Draco shivered as he felt Harry's finger run down his cheek and over his lips.
"Yes," he said simply, "and you are my boyfriend." Draco smiled and pressed a quick kiss against Harry's lips. They both turned and continued up to Dumbledore's office. Harry knocked on the heavy oak door.
"Enter," they heard Dumbledore's voice call out. The boys pushed open the door and entered the room.
"Mum! Dad!" Draco cried as he launched himself at his parents who were standing next to Dumbledore. He felt his mother raining kisses down on his head and his father holding him close. After a few moments, Draco pulled away from his parents and they sat down on the armchairs they had been sitting in before Draco and Harry entered the room. Draco noticed that Harry was still standing awkwardly near the door. Draco sent him a brilliant smile and held out his hand. Harry smiled back, his green eyes sparkling showing his delight that Draco's parents were safe. Harry took his hand and they sat down on the sofa opposite Draco's parents. Dumbledore was already sitting at the end of the coffee table between Harry and Draco and his parents.
"Mum, Dad, this is Harry Potter, my boyfriend," Draco announced proudly, his eyes shining. Draco's parents looked from him to Harry and smiled at him. Draco felt Harry relax beside him at this sign of acceptance. Draco tried to remember if he had told Harry that they already knew he was gay (so this wasn't that big of a shock) but be couldn't remember. If he didn't, he probably should have. He hadn't realised that this would be a tense moment for Harry. It made him love Harry even more as he understood how much guts it had taken to walk in here and face his parents. Draco started caressing Harry's hand with his thumb, which was becoming something of a habit that neither of them was aware of. Draco studied his parents. They looked well, if a little strained. His mother's light blond hair was pulled back off her face and her blue eyes looked relieved of the stress of the past years. He watched as she held out her hand to Harry.
"It's lovely to meet you, Harry," Draco's mother was saying as she shook his free hand. Draco's father did the same.
"Harry, I'd just like to apologise for everything that has happened over the last few years. I'm sorry you had to go through all that," his father said regretfully. Draco was relieved to see Harry smile and accept his father's apology. It meant so much to him that Harry and his parents (his only family) were getting along.
Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"I have decided that Lucius and Narcissa will stay here for as long as it takes to eradicate the world of Voldemort's influence. I'm sure you boys have noticed that we lack a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Who is better equipped to teach such a subject than a former Death Eater? And if this battle against the Dark Lord takes longer than the school year then I'm afraid you will all have to stay here over the summer holidays. Needless to say, none of you will be leaving the school for any reason – Christmas holidays, Hogsmeade visits. Harry, you will be required to stay here too I'm afraid. Voldemort is becoming too strong and you will be even more of a target once word about the two of you gets out. You will go now and pack up your things. You need to move to the room I prepared for you both. It is not safe for you to be in your House dorms anymore. I can't protect you well enough in a large dorm with people constantly coming and going. Go now, while your fellow students are in class. Don't say anything to anyone. I will inform the student's of all they need to know tonight at dinner. Off you go." Dumbledore smiled at them reassuringly.
Draco and Harry stood up, still holding hands. They smiled at Draco's parents and left the office.
Before they left the spiral staircase, Draco and Harry kissed each other hungrily. Draco felt Harry's hands in his hair. Draco pushed his hands under Harry's robes, eager to touch Harry's skin.
"Boys, don't make me come down there!" Dumbledore's laughing voice echoed through the room with the staircase. Harry pulled his hands out of Draco's hair and Draco felt a frustrated at the lack on contact. They entered the corridor, stole a quick kiss and headed off in opposite directions to their dorms.
Draco hummed to himself as he packed up all his belongings. He looked around the room, grateful to be leaving these horrible Slytherin's. Draco still remembered the day he got sorted into Slytherin……
Hmmm, a small voice in his ear said. Where shall I put you? it asked, perhaps Gryffindor, you certainly have a good heart.
Not Gryffindor, please don't put me in Gryffindor, I prayed fervently. I knew the consequences for joining the wrong house.
Not Gryffindor? it asked curiously, well, you'd better join SLYTHERIN!
Collecting his belongings with a sigh (he might have been better off in Gryffindor after all) Draco made his way out of the common room for the last time. Draco made it to his and Harry's rooms without running into anyone. He was thankful for that small miracle.
Harry was already unpacking his things into one of the chests on either side of the bedroom. Draco quietly put his things down and stood in the doorway, watching Harry who was oblivious to his presence. Harry's tall, lithe form was moving around the room, putting things here and there, making it more like a home (something that wasn't really possible when you had 4 roommates). Draco's eyes swept over his lover's body. He couldn't get enough of the sight of him – his broad shoulders, his muscular chest and his incredibly sexy legs. Draco particularly loved his bright emerald green eyes. Draco sometimes felt like he could drown in those eyes, they were like a deep green ocean, full of feeling and emotion.
"So you sleep on the left, huh?" Draco drawled, smiling when he saw Harry jump in surprise.
"Yeah," he replied sheepishly, "is that okay?" Draco crossed over to him and kissed him.
"Of course it's okay, gorgeous, although I'm sure we'll both end up in the middle," Draco laughed. Harry pulled Draco into his arms and they fell onto the bed kissing each other like it had been days, rather than just a few minutes since their lips last touched. They both jumped as they heard someone knocking on the door from the corridor to their living room. Draco hastily adjusted his robes and got up to answer the door.
"Mum! What are you doing here?" Draco exclaimed. His mother smiled up at him in amusement.
"Aren't you going to ask me in, Draco?" she asked. Draco moved out of the doorway and ushered her in. He wondered how she was able to walk into the room when Dumbledore had clearly said only he and Harry could enter the room. Then he realised that he had opened the door, so maybe only he and Harry could open the door, so they could let people in if they wanted to. Satisfied with his own explanation for this discrepancy, Draco sat down in the living next to his mother on the sofa.
"Are you upset that I told Harry and Dumbledore what has been going on?" Draco asked hesitantly.
"No, no, Draco, please don't worry about it," Narcissa said soothingly as she smoothed Draco's pale golden hair away from his eyes. "Your father and I were so caught up in the pretence that we couldn't see a solution. Your father and I are in a suite of rooms, much like this one. We're right next door to you and Harry if you ever need us. The next door on the left. Hogwart's is the safest place for all of us right now." Narcissa paused, as if considering her next words, "you do realise that the final confrontation with Voldemort with probably involve Harry, don't you?" she asked gently.
Draco looked shaken. He hadn't thought that far ahead yet. It was obvious now that his mother had said it aloud. Harry was always directly involved in the conflict with Voldemort. Look at last year, for example. Harry had ended up duelling with Voldemort in Hogsmeade. Many buildings that were destroyed in the duel still had to be rebuilt. Harry had almost been killed in the battle and it had taken weeks for him to regain his strength. Draco leaned back against the back of the chair and closed his eyes. It had been hard enough to watch him risk his life last year, when he had merely had a crush on him, oh okay so it had been deeper than that, but still, he wasn't nearly as involved with Harry then as he was now. It would devastate him if he lost Harry. Draco was too involved in his thoughts to notice his mother quietly leaving.
"Draco?" He heard Harry's voice calling him. "Are you okay?" He sounded worried. Draco opened his eyes and found himself staring into a pair of concerned emerald eyes. Draco rubbed his eyes tiredly. He sat up quickly and pulled Harry into a tight embrace. He held on for dear life. Draco felt Harry's arms come around him and hold him comfortingly. He knew Harry didn't understand why Draco was clinging to him and Draco didn't particularly feel like explaining it just yet.
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Dumbledore stood in the doorway to the boys' living room and smiled at the image in front of him. He had always had a soft spot for students who were truly in love. Along with being able to see invisible students, Dumbledore was also able to see people's auras. Though many muggles scoffed at the notion of some people being able to see other people's auras, Dumbledore was one of the few people blessed with this talent. He had known from the instant they had stepped into his office yesterday that they were truly in love. He had known, of course, that each had an unrequited love before that, but auras don't give the name of their unrequited love, just the feeling. That had been the deciding factor in his decision to give the boys one room to share. Dumbledore knew the consequences of his actions, he knew that many people would object, but he was also aware of the fact that he couldn't stop these boys being together if they really wanted to.
They really were a sight to see. They were seated on the sofa still holding each other close. Draco's arms were around Harry's neck and it looked like if he would choke the boy if he squeezed much harder. Harry's arms were around Draco's waist and it looked as though he had pulled Draco onto his lap. Their heads were side by side, one dark, one light. Draco's silver eyes were hidden as he squeezed them tightly shut and Harry's green ones were regarding Dumbledore with a worried gaze. Harry indicated that he should sit down on the armchair near them. Dumbledore shook his head and left them alone.
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Harry pulled gently away from Draco and brushed the hair out of his eyes. He looks pale, Harry thought worriedly.
"Drac, what's wrong?" he said gently. Draco opened his eyes. They sat back a bit so they could look into each other's eyes, but still in the same positions. Harry was trying to comfort him and give him strength. He didn't know what had made Draco so upset but he was determined to find out.
"Draco, love, talk to me," Harry cajoled. He gazed into his lover's silver eyes and was surprised to see utter fear reflecting back at him.
"Drac, what is it?" he asked, a little more desperately this time. Draco hung his head, as if he was afraid to tell Harry what was going through his mind.
"I just don't want to lose you!" Draco cried out suddenly and pulled Harry back into his arms.
"You're not going to lose me, silly," Harry teased gently.
"But…Voldemort…" was all Draco could say before Harry interrupted him.
"Voldemort shmoldermort," Harry said forcefully, making sure Draco was hearing what he was saying. "He is not going to take me away or kill me. Have faith in Dumbledore and the other people in this crusade. We are not in this alone. There are plenty of people on our side."
"But it comes down to you, Harry. It always does. Everyone knows you are going to be the one to either defeat the Dark Lord or die trying. I just can't watch you die, Harry, I can't," Draco's voice got steadily smaller as he got out that short speech.
Harry wished he could kill Voldemort right now so he could take Draco's unhappiness away. They had all been living under a cloud of uncertainty and despair since Voldemort had returned at the end of their forth year at Hogwart's.
"Sweetheart, we can't predict the future, no matter how hard I try in Divination," Harry joked, trying to get his boyfriend to smile but to no avail. "We don't know what is going to happen so let's just enjoy the time we have together right now. I know how you feel, Draco, I really do. You know my family are dead (well, apart from the muggles) so you are my family now. Everyone I've loved I've lost and it scares me. I don't want to lose you either but I'm not going to let that fear run my life." Draco managed a small smile and nodded. They sat together silently, just holding each other for a while thinking about Dumbledore's speech that night.
"Let's go down to dinner. We can't put this off any longer." Draco said as he stood up. Harry stood up next to him and held his hand.
"Are you okay now?" he asked anxiously as they walked over to the door.
"I'm fine. You were right. Who knows what will happen in the future. All I know is I can't wait for tonight to be over," Draco replied nervously. Harry kissed him deeply.
"I love you, Drac. Whatever happens we can get through it – together."
"I love you too, Harry." They smiled at each other and kissed again.
"I'll go first," Draco said, kissing Harry goodbye. He slipped out the door. Harry touched his fingers to his lips. He smiled, if someone had told me last week that I would be kissing Draco Malfoy, I would have laughed out loud, he thought with a sense of awe. After a few more minutes, Harry slipped out the door and made his way to the Grand Hall.
Harry glanced over at Draco, he was obviously trying to explain where he had been all day. As soon as Harry sat down opposite Ron and Hermione, he was bombarded with questions.
"Where on earth have you been, Harry?" asked Hermione, worriedly. "You missed Divination and Herbology. Well I'm sure you didn't miss much at Divination. That subject is such a load of – "
"Hermione!" interrupted Ron in shock, "Anyway, Harry, what's going on? All your stuff is gone from our room. Are you leaving the school?" Both Ron and Hermione stared at him with equally upset faces. It warmed Harry's heart to see how much his two best friends were going to miss him. If he were going away that is. He grinned.
"Dumbledore's going to explain everything soon but I can't say anything until then," he told them.
Neville was sitting next to Ron on the opposite side of the table and Dean and Seamus were sitting next to Harry. Harry sat with his back to the wall as usual, so he could keep an eye on Draco. Harry's eyes narrowed jealously as he watched Pansy Parkinson put her hands all over (well almost all over) his boyfriend. Harry felt an insane urge to tell her where she could go but he fought it down. It looked like Draco was trying to get away from her but she was so damn persistent. Calm down, Harry thought, it's only a matter of time before she finds out she never had a chance with Draco.
"So, Harry," Seamus started (oh god, what's he going to come out with? Harry thought with a feeling of impending doom). "How's the gay life treating you? Kidding, kidding," Seamus said when he saw the look on Harry's face.
At last Dumbledore stood up in front of the students.
"Ahem, I know I don't usually say anything before an everyday dinner. It's usually only the special dinners, like Halloween, that I say a few words. But recent events have forced me to do so now. Voldemort's return to the world of the living 2 years back has put many lives in danger. All of you will know that Hogwart's is one of the safest places to be in times of turmoil. Therefore I have decided to provide protection for some of the more at risk people in the magical community. In return for this protection, we now have a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher after several weeks without one. He is Lucius Malfoy. Please make him feel welcome."
Draco's father walked into the Great Hall, followed closely by Narcissa. They both sat down at the teacher's table. They were both smiling in an attempt to convey a warm persona to the students, in contrast to what they knew people thought about them (that is, being cold, heartless people). Everyone in the hall sat in stunned silence. Dumbledore started clapping, in welcome to the new teacher and his wife. Harry followed his example and started clapping too. He looked over and smiled at Draco who was also clapping. The rest of the Slytherin's looked like it was the end of the world.
Well, it is, Harry thought, it's the end of the world as they know it.
Ron and Hermione, actually all of the Gryffindor's, were staring at Harry like he was mad. Harry smiled reassuringly at the whole table and indicated that they should start clapping too. Ron and Hermione looked at each other and must have decided to trust Harry's judgement, for they joined in and not long after, the entire Gryffindor table was giving the Malfoy's a hearty welcome that would have made Fred and George proud (Ron and Ginny were keeping the Weasley tradition of mischief and mayhem alive and well). Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff joined in too, but only Draco of the Slytherin's was making any sort of noise.
Harry noted the stony looks on the Slytherin's faces and looked desperately over at Dumbledore. What would they do to Draco? Who knows how involved they are in their fathers' activities but they looked like they knew a lot of what was going on, as they looked like they had lost a vital cog in the Voldemort machine. Harry secretly rejoiced in their despair. Hopefully this loss would slow the Dark Lord down in his quest for power. Harry noticed that Dumbledore had indicated for Draco to come over and he was now speaking to him. They both looked over in his direction and Draco nodded. Dumbledore moved back to his place in front of the students and held up his hands for silence. As he began speaking, Harry watched as Draco walked around the edge of the tables and sat down next to Harry at the end of the Gryffindor table. Harry and Draco held hands under the table.
"This is not all. Two students in our midst are also in danger. I'm sure it must come as no surprise that one of these students is Harry Potter. I had hoped Harry would be able to make it through at least one school year without being in danger, but as this is his last year, that wish appears to have been in vain. The other student is Draco Malfoy, which I'm sure is also not a surprise, given that his parent's are now here."
Dumbledore paused.
"I have been having long conversations with the Sorting Hat lately and it appears that Draco has been placed in the wrong house. He was placed in Slytherin as the hat could sense the terrible consequences of him being placed in any other house. However the hat was quite clear when it told me just last night that Draco belongs in Gryffindor. So as of tonight, Draco Malfoy is a Gryffindor. I am going to make one more announcement and then we shall eat. I apologise for keeping you from your meal so long, however, I believe I need to tell you this to get the record straight. Rumours and gossip fly around this school faster than the owls do. Therefore, I am going to make this clear right here and now."
Harry's grip tightened around Draco's hand as Dumbledore continued.
"I am sure you all heard this morning at breakfast that Harry Potter is gay. While I don't normally make a habit of discussing the students' love lives, I feel I must make an exception. It is true that Harry is gay, so is Draco Malfoy and they are in love with each other (gasps of shock could be heard all over the hall). I hope you can understand this and respect their feelings. Due to the danger they are in, they cannot stay in their dorm rooms any longer. They have moved all their things to a secret room I have magically protected for them, the same way I protected Draco's parents' room. That's enough seriousness for one night. Let's eat!" Dumbledore clapped his hands together twice and the food appeared on the table.
Seamus patted Harry on the back.
"Well done, Harry, you snagged the hottest guy in the whole school," he said appreciatively.
Harry grinned at Seamus and looked over at Ron and Hermione. They looked like they had seen a ghost. Well actually that was true, Nearly Headless Nick was sitting next to Dean. Harry turned to Draco, carefully ignoring the fact that the entire school was watching their every move. Draco looked at Harry with a mischievous smile on his face, his silver eyes twinkling. Before Harry could comment on his good mood, or ask what he was up to, Draco let go of Harry's hand, put his hand behind Harry's head and pulled him in for a long, deep kiss.
"They would've stared at us all night till we did that," he explained when they came up for air.
"Who needs an excuse?" Harry replied with a grin and kissed Draco again.
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~to be continued~